His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Minister of Defence and Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, yesterday consented to receive in audience Chief of Defence Staff of United Kingdom, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, at the Istana Nurul Iman.

The three-day official introductory visit by Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, since he became the Chief of Defence Staff on April 28, 2006, aims to strengthen the friendly relationship of both countries and extend the importance of defence cooperation of the respective armed forces.

Accompanying Sir Jock Stirrup at the audience was the Commander of Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General Dato Paduka Seri Hj Awang Halbi bin Hj Md Yussof.

Also present during the audience were Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office Dato Paduka Hj Mustappa bin Hj Sirat and Dato Paduka Awang Hj Abdul Majid bin Mangarshah, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence.

Meanwhile, Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha yesterday granted two separate audiences to the wife of the United Kingdom's Chief of Defence Staff, the newly appointed Brunei Darussalam High Commissioner to Canada and the wife of Brunei's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva.

Her Majesty first received Lady Mary Stirrup, the wife of Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup.

Later, Her Majesty granted audience to the newly appointed Brunei High Commissioner to Canada, Rakiah binti Hj Abdul Hamid, and Jacqualine Erih, the wife of the newly appointed Brunei Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

The audience was held at the Istana Nurul Iman. - Borneo Bulletin (29th April 2008)